Improvement in can-openers



NITE STATES ROBERT n. HUGUNIN,

0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAN-OPENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 146,677, dated January20, 1874;A application iiled December 26, 1873.

To all whom 'it may concern Beit known that I, ROBERT B. HUGUNIN, of thecity, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Gan-Openers, of which the following is aspecification:

This invention consists, iirst, in the construction and use, incombination with an upward-cutting blade, of a non-cutting or stopprojection, extending outwardly from the front end of said blade for thepurpose of limiting its upward cut, and to cause lthe blade to remain inthe cut made in the can till the operation is complete, the processrequiring but the upward and downward movement of the handle, and thecarrying forward ofthe fulcrum rest and blade, to give a continuous andsmooth cut throughout. Secondly, the invention consists in a rigidfulcrum-rest, formed by the end corner edges of an abrupt terminatingtang, its terminus being secured or fastened to the blade-tang byfasteninglugs lapping upon each side of the edge of the blade-tang, justback of the intersection of the blade-tang with the blade, the objectbeing to obtain a rigid fulcrum-bearing rest, in close proximity to thehandle, for either cutting-edge of the blade. Thirdly, the inventionconsists in constructing and using, in `combination with thecommonly-used can-opener knife blade, of a hand-protecting shield,projecting beyond and over the outer end of the said blade, so as toprotect the user from cutting the hand holding the can by the accidentalslipping of the knife from contact with solder, or other hard substance,during the operation of opening the can, and also to deprive theknife-blade of its dangerous cutting qualities, however used. Fourthly,the invention consists in constructing and using a `transversely andlongitudinally curved or bent hand-protecting or blade shield, thetransverse `curve .allowing a less space between the blade and shield,and the longitudinal bend or curve allowing the shield to more fullyprotect the point of the blade.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front and side view of myimproved device `for opening cans; Fig. 2, detail view showing `themanner of construction, with non-cutting projection, protecting-shiel d,and fulcrum-rest;

Fig. 3, View of theblade and its tang D, and the tang E, having thefulcrum-rest on one side of the blade, so as to be available, whethercutting with the right or left hand, as also is the shield andprojection G.`

A, handle in which the blade and fulcruni- I rest tangs are inserted forpermanent use; B, knife-blade, made either curved or straight; C,projection from, or extension of, blade'B, being a .narrowed non-cuttingcontinuation of blade B, the end of which continuation is made chisel orpoint shaped, to enter the can easily, while the sides or edges are madenon-cutting by flattening' or rounding them, the object becutting witheither edge of the knife, and is on one side of the blade only. It ismade or cast with the tang E, which is secured to tang D by a rivet, or.by the two .opposite sides or projections of the rest being bent orriveted down over the tang D. In manufacturing, it is advantageous tohave the rest made separate from the steel-piece forming the blade andits tang. H H', fastening-lugs, used for securely attaching the twotangs together, and to resist the pressiue on the fulcrum-rest duringthe operation of cutting open the can; G, shield, covering the blade B.It is made wider and longer than the blade, so as to protect the hand ofthe user in case the knife slips, and to render it safe in the hands ofchildren. This shield may be made to conform to the general shape of theblade, whether it be straight or curved, either lengthwise ortransversely; and, at a point nearly opposite the end of thecutting-edges of the blade, the shield may be bent or curved inward,covering the line of of direction the blade takes, thus more fullycovering the bladeprojecting point. The transverse curve of the innersurface of the shield enables it to work closer to the can, requiringless space between the blade and shield, and enables the operator to cutthe top from the can uniformly, near its edge, all

around, in a lsmooth eut, leaving the can t for use afterward, ifdesired.

This device is also adapted to the opening of Wine-bottles, having theircorks'fastened with Wire, the projection of the blade B and shield beingboth useful for this purpose.

It should be noted that, since the shield is formed with a tang, and,likewise, the blade with a tang, for eonnectin g them With a handle,that either can be removed, in case of breaking, and a new onesubstituted 5' and, further, I would say, that the shield isI notemployed solely as a guide for the blade, its prime object being tocover the blade, so as to prevent its edge or point cutting the hand ofthe operator, should the implement slip from the can which it isdesigned to cut.

1 The non-cutting or Vstop projection C, formed on the end of acutting-blade B, in combination' with a fulcrum-rest, F, and a handle,A, substantially as described.

2. The tang E, having the rigid fulcruni-rest F and fastening lugs H Hlapping on the edges of tang D, in combination With tang D, blade B, andhandle A, all arranged and connected together substantially asdescribed.

3. The blade B, having a front thrust cuttinged ge, in combination Witha .fulcruni-rest, F, and protecting shield G, projecting beyond and overthe outer end of said blade, substantially as described.

4. In combination with the cutting-blade B, the transverse andlongitudinally curved or bent shield Gr, projecting' beyond thecuttingedge and point or the blade, substantially as described.

R. B. HUG-UNIX.

Vvitnesses: y

A. H. ANoRRis, W. J. PEY'roN.

